09-FOUR SUPER-SPICY PIZZAS!

FOUR SUPER-SPICY PIZZAS! When Trap finished, Thea grabbed the phone. She dialed the number for Rats Authority, the best store in town for sporting goods. "Yes, I'll need four wet suits, four pairs of rubber boots, four flashlights..." she ordered. The list went on and on. I sighed. I had a feeling this expedition was going to cost me more than a five-course meal at Le Squeakery, my favorite French restaurant. Trap used the phone next. He called the pizza place across from my office. "Hello? Send me four super-spicy, super-cheesy, super-large, super-expensive pizzas with everything on them. Right away!"

I groaned. Did he have to add expensive? Even pizza can get pricey in a place like New Mouse City. He was about to hang up when he shouted one last order. "One more thing," he added. "Make my cousin's pizza extra SUPER- SPICY. He needs to strengthen his stomach!" I started to protest. Eating spicy food could kill me. I'm not kidding. One time, I accidentally ate a burrito at Hotfur's Mexican Cantina. My stomach was messed up for months! I was still thinking about Hotfur's when

Thea grabbed my paw. "You're coming with us, Geronimo, aren't you?" she asked. I didn't say a word. There was no way I was going down into the subway's dark, SPOOKY tunnels. Plus, I didn't want to come snout-to-snout with a gigantic CAT! "Ahem, well, actually, I feel like I might be getting a cold," I explained. Just then, Trap piped up. "My good friend Whiskers Malone told me that Sally Ratmousen is following the same hot trail. You wouldn't want her to beat us to the scoop, would you?" he announced. Rats! Just hearing Sally's name made my tail twitch. As terrified as I was about encountering the phantom CAT, I knew I had to do it. I couldn't let that rotten Sally Ratmousen beat me at my own game.

The Rodent's Gazette had to get the story before The Daily Rat did! "I'm in!" I declared. I just hoped I wasn't in for trouble.